Anti-Semitism is a prejudice or discrimination against
Jewish people based on negative stereotypes. When Jews are
considered an inferior "race" anti-Semitism turns
into racism.

Discrimination
occurs when a person is subjected to restrictions or receives
unfair treatment on the basis of ascription to a group (or
social category) without consideration for the individual
merit. Moreover, the attributes of that group is said to
have come from prejudiced stereotyping (see prejudice and
stereotype).

Sometimes
discrimination is seen as actual behavior, while prejudice
is defined as an attitude. For example, Kornblum in a widely-used
sociological text defines prejudice "as an attitude
that prejudges a person, either positively or negatively,
on the basis of real or imagined characteristics (stereotypes)
of a group of which that person is a member. Discrimination,
on the other hand, refers to actual unfair treatment of
people on the basis of their group membership" (Kornblum 304).

Homophobia
is prejudice or discrimination against homosexuals (gays
or lesbians), often based on the negative stereotypes of
their sexual orientation.

In-group
versus out-group. This is an important distinction for
the understanding of stereotypes. It refers to the difference
between a group to which an individual belongs and is emotionally
attached to and any of the groups that exist outside of
this "zone of intimacy." Great sociologists, Georg
Simmel observed that "in-group, out-group distinctions
can form around almost any quality, even one that outsiders
would not consider meaningful at all" (Kornblum 1988:144).
The in-group, out-group distinction helps to establish boundaries
between groups that are very difficult to abolish or bridge.
Stereotypes, that is simplified images of the members of
the out-group (or their characteristics), are often counterposed
to the simplified self-images of the in-group. While the
latter are usually very positive, the former tend to be
derogatory and negative (see the Power Point presentation
on self-stereotypes).

Prejudice
is a negative or hostile attitude toward a person or group
formed without just grounds or sufficient knowledge and
based on negative stereotypes. Prejudice is based on hasty,
unconsidered judgement and can lead to discrimination.

Racism
is a prejudice or discrimination based on two assumptions:
(1) that humans can be meaningfully divided into biologically
separate races and (2) that the race determines specific
traits and abilities of its "members," such as
intelligence, type of skills or the general ability to acquire
and develop "culture." Modern social science demonstrates
that both assumptions are false.

Religious
bigotry is prejudice or discrimination against members
of other religions. It is often based on simplified and
stereotypical ideas or images of "other" beliefs
and religious practices.

Sexism
is prejudice or discrimination based on negative (or positive)
stereotypes of the male or female gender.

Stereotype. Stereotyping, a process in which a whole
page of type is cast in a single mold so that a printing plate
can be made from it, was invented by William Ged, a Scottish
goldsmith, in 1725, Until the invention of the stereotype
printing type had to be reset if a second printing was to
be made. Ged took a plaster mold of the type and then cast
the whole page in metal. He was also the inventor of the "Lost
Wax" process of metal casting, used for reproducing delicate
designs, especially in the jewellery trade. Stereotyping,
all though invented by Ged in 1725, was reintroduced in 1784
by Alexander Tilloch, who improved upon the method of stereotyping.

In the social sciences, humanities, and journalism, stereotypes
are usually defined as simplifying generalizations people
use when they think about and/or act toward other individuals
or groups. They help people systematize their thinking about
other groups or individuals by providing them with ready-made
images or list of attributes that purportedly reflect "the
true essence" of other groups. Stereotypes do not take
into account the many differences that exist among the individual
members of the group. Since stereotypes are such handy and
useful mental "short-cuts" they are pervasive
in all cultures. They are found in myths, legends, everyday
stories, painting, jokes, cartoons, even music. However,
even if they are intended as harmless and joking cataloguing
devices (as they often are), they usually have pernicious
social effects. Those who use them hamper their own ability
to develop more accurate, concrete, and empathetic understanding
of other groups or individuals. Those who are targets of
stereotyping are often also victims of PREJUDICE and DISCRIMINATION.
In extreme situations, stereotypes are used to incite and
justify violence; they can be turned into deadly weapons.

Examples of definitions of stereotypes:

In sociology: Stereotypes are "preconceived and oversimplified
beliefs and expectations about the traits of members of
a particular group that do not account for individual differences"
(not- Kornblum 565)

In anthropology: "... the concept of stereotyping refers
to the creation and consistent application of standardized
notions of the cultural distinctiveness of a group. Stereotypes
are held by dominated groups as well as by dominating ones,
and they are widespread in societies with significant power
differences as well as in societies where there is a rough
power equilibrium between ethnic groups" (Ericksen
1993:23).